Open the Future has devised an 7-level “apocalypse scale,” grading the threat to humanity and the planet of 7 levels of disaster.

Given the popularity of mega-disasters in movies, we can consider which of the levels have been depicted — or at least threatened — on screen.

LEVEL — SCALE
0 — Regional catastrophe
Movies depicting:

• 28 Days Later

1 — Human die-back
Movies depicting:

• The Day after Tomorrow
• The Postman
• The Road Warrior
• Terminator

2 — Civilizational extinction
Movies depicting:

• Deep Impact
• 12 Monkeys — due to a madman aiming for a 3A
• Planet of the Apes
• The Matrix

3A — Human extinction–engineered
Movies depicting:

• On the Beach — the apparently imminent fate of humanity after a nuclear war
• Children of Men — global sterility of unknown cause
• Independence Day — or so the aliens intend

3B — Human extinction–natural
Movies depicting:

• none known

4 — Biosphere extinction
Movies depicting:

• none known

5 — Planetary extinction
Movies depicting:

• Armageddon — “nothing will survive” unless the giant asteroid is deflected, though a Texas-sized asteroid might be more like a level 4

X — Planetary elimination
Movies depicting:

• Star Wars — Alderaan at the hands of the Death Star